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Joakim R.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

des vs lesIt's Christmas, so "I must of course buy presents" -> "Je dois bien sûr acheter les cadeaux" according to the lastest writing challenge. "presents" is not preceded by an article in English here, so we must pick "des" or "les" in French, but which one? The way I've understood it, it should be "les" when one is referring to all elements of a kind: "I hate apples" -> "Je déteste LES pommes", and "des" when referring to a subset: "I ate apples" -> "J'ai mangé DES pommes". Thus I expected ".. acheter DES cadeaux". So why is it "les" this time ?

Asked 8 years ago

Barbara R.A1Kwiziq community member

would the negative be, for example, Ils ne seraient pas tellement déçus.Is this correct? Vous ne seriez pas surpris. And this - to ask if he would be happy to help? Est-ce qu'il serait heureux d'aider

Asked 8 years ago

William S.C1Kwiziq community member

Can "de bonne heure" be used to express "early". For a question the correct answer was "en advance". Tu es en avance aujourd'hui. Could one say Tu es de bonne heure aujourd'hui.

Asked 8 years ago

Sarah T.C1Kwiziq community member

j'ai passé ou je suis passé

Asked 8 years ago

Nicole C.C1Kwiziq community member

Again stuck on when to use passé simple. Thought not used much in conversation these days?

Asked 8 years ago

Barbara A.C1Kwiziq community member

Am not understanding when to use passe' simple

Asked 8 years ago

Sandra L.B2Kwiziq community member

I'm sat between Lea and Tim. I've never in the U.S. heard this. We say I am seated between Lea and Tim. or I was seated between them. Not sure what grammar book uses this expression, I am sat. Never heard it. I sat down is used

Asked 8 years ago

Jayne M.C1Kwiziq community member

I just dont get the difference between de...à ..and.de..du...they e both used in between dates?

Asked 8 years ago

M. I.A2Kwiziq community member

Why not passé composé or plus que parfait?OK. Alors j'ai toujours des problems avec l'imparfait. Pourquoi est-ce qu'on ne doit pas utilise le passé composé avec : "Tu parlais de Jean, ce matin." "Ce matin" n'est pas une temps spécifique? L'autre example que me pose des problems c'est "Elle courait quand le bus arriva." Ça n'est pas un example d'une action interrompu? Alors il faudra utiliser le plus que parfait, non?

Asked 8 years ago

yellamaraju s.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Ai-je assez d'argent ? Not why?Inverted form of question. Is it for the purpose of pronunciation?

Asked 8 years ago

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